Our Priests

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Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson

Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson

Pastor

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A native of Los Angeles, Msgr. Torgerson was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1965. After his first assignment at Holy Trinity Parish in San Pedro, he moved in 1971 to New York and completed a Masters in Religious Education at Fordham University. He came back to serve the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as Director of Youth Ministry for 11 years and then as Director of Religious Education until 1987. Monsignor has been in residence at St. Monica for over 30 years and has served as pastor for over 25. In his spare time he is on the Board of Directors of the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Santa Monica and serves as the Vicar for Ministerial Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He is an avid golfer and you can often find him in the early hours of the morning riding his bike along the beach.

To reach him by phone, please call his assistant, Patricia Garcia, at (310) 566-1503.
Fr. Dave Ayotte

Fr. Dave Ayotte

Associate Pastor

Fr. Dave Ayotte was recently assigned to St. John Eudes in Chastworth before coming to St. Monica. After emigrating from Canada when he was 4, Fr. Dave’s family settled in Eastern Los Angeles, where he attended Bishop Amat Memorial High School. During college, Fr. Dave discerned a vocation to the priesthood and entered the seminary, however he wasn’t yet sure of his true calling. It wasn’t until he returned to LA, began a teaching position in the Religion Department at Bishop Amat, and completed his graduate work at Mount St. Mary’s that he felt strongly called to the priesthood. Fr. Dave completed his seminary studies at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo in 1992. He worked extensively with the Jesuits and as a diocesan priest, both in the United States and abroad. Fr. Dave held simultaneous roles as the Director of Development for the Jesuit Conference of Africa & Madagascar and Undergraduate Theology Professor at Jesuit Schools of Theology at Hekima College in Nairobi Kenya. He has literally been all over the world living his vocation and credits both his diocesan and Jesuit formation that have challenged him, spiritually and professionally, in unique ways. Fr. Dave enjoys Hiking, visiting the Grand Canyon, being in nature, reading, and Sci-fi.

Fr. Dave can be reached by phone by calling the Parish Office at (310) 566-1500,
Fr. Prosper Hedagbui

Fr. Prosper Hedagbui

Associate Pastor

Fr Prosper was born and raised in Ghana. He is last of six siblings. He had his Minor and major Seminary formations in Ghana. He was ordained a Priest on July 18th 2009. He worked as the Associate Cathedral Administrator in the Diocese of Jasikan. In 2010, He was assigned as Parochial administrator and later as Pastor of St Michael Parish in Krachi, Ghana. He also worked as the Vocations Director for his Diocese between 2010-2014. In 2014, he was sent to Italy for a Licentiate in Social Communications at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Fr prosper likes country music, Ping Pong, and soccer.

Fr. Prosper can be reached by phone by calling the Parish Office at (310) 566-1500.
Fr. David Guffey, CSC

Fr. David Guffey, CSC

Priest In-Residence

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Fr. David is a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, living in-residence and assisting at St. Monica, Although he regularly preaches and presides at sacraments, his full-time job is National Director of Family Theater Productions where he has worked since 2008. Father David also gives retreats and talks on spirituality, faith and media, and Catholicism and film. He is a Notre Dame football enthusiast, loves to travel and is a film buff.

Fr. David grew up in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, where both his parents and sister (with her husband and six children) still live. He received a BA in American Studies and a Master of Divinity from the University of Notre Dame and an MFA in film and television production at Loyola Marymount University. He was ordained a priest of Holy Cross in 1991. Fr. David’s work with Family Theater Productions and the Congregation of Holy Cross often take him out of town for meetings and projects.

To reach him by phone, call the Parish Office at (310) 566-1500 or Family Theater Productions at (323) 874-6633.
Fr. Vince Kuna

Fr. Vince Kuna

Priest-in-residence

Rev. Vince Kuna, CSC, is a priest-in-residence at St. Monica and member of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He also assists with campus ministry classes at St. Monica Catholic High School. Fr. Vince works full-time at Family Theater Productions in Hollywood as Head of Development and Director of Hollywood Outreach. He is an avid sports fan, having swam in college and coached high school swimming prior to entering seminary.

Fr. Vince was born and raised in Naperville, IL. He enjoys visiting his family when vacationing. Before joining Family Theater Productions, he taught Film Production at the University of Notre Dame. Fr. Vince also received a Master’s Degree in Divinity (’08) and Bachelor’s in Business Administration (’99); later, Fr. Vince graduated from the University of Southern California (‘16) with an MFA in Film and Television Production.

To reach him by phone, call the Parish Office at (310) 566-1500 or Family Theater Productions at (323) 874-663.